Men are reluctant to confront partners about weight

Men are much more reluctant than women, when it comes to confronting partners about their expanding waistlines, a new study has revealed. Almost a third of men do not want to raise the issue compared to a mere 10 per cent of women who would be hesitant to suggest that their partner slimmed down.

However, it is a different story all together, when a person is required to tell a close friend to go on a diet. Then, 23 per cent of women would find it hard to bring up the subject compared to only 8 per cent of men, the Daily Mail reported.

The poll of more than 2,000 people, supported by the National Obesity Forum, divulged that most were worried

about someone's weight. In fact, 59 per cent of those who polled feared that a loved one with large waistline would become more vulnerable to serious health problems.

But 31 per cent said that the apprehension of hurting their feelings or provoking a bad reaction would stop them from suggesting they needed to lose weight. "Suggesting to someone that they should consider losing a few pounds may not be a comfortable conversation to have," said Professor David Haslam from the National Obesity Forum.

"But if someone close to you has a large waistline, discussing it with them now could help them avoid critical health risks later and could even save their life," Haslam added